Fixtures reveal the tough challenges ahead for Jose Mourinho, David Moyes and company

You can almost hear the Stretford End practising their chants of “sit down
Mourinho”. The battle for the 2013-14 Premier League title is 58 days away
and yet the shape and sound of skirmishes to come are becoming clear.

Sit down: Jose Mourinho begins his second spell at Chelsea with a home game against Hull City before taking the club to Manchester UnitedPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

The first stellar date that glows on the pages of the new football calendar is Mourinho’s trip to Old Trafford on the second weekend of the season.

The ‘Special One’ would love to be sitting down at Manchester United in the home dugout on Aug 24. Mourinho coveted the opportunity to be Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor but David Moyes was appointed and Mourinho returned slightly chastened from Real Madrid to Chelsea.

He has a point to prove, reminding everyone of his talent. Mourinho is on a mission.

Mourinho has frequently enjoyed his tussles with United, from his early days at Porto to more recently with Real. The collision with Chelsea already looms large in the minds of many connected to Old Trafford.

“Mourinho has been boasting about his record against United,’’ the former United player, Quinton Fortune, told MUTV. “He always brings it up. But this is a different manager, with a different style of play.

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"If David Moyes brings the same desire and fighting spirit that he had at Everton I am sure Mourinho will find it tough. He knew Sir Alex Ferguson for many years. He knows what type of team to play against him. It is a different ball game now.”

Mourinho will have Chelsea challenging for the title, and should begin the season strongly with Hull City visiting the Bridge.

The opening weekend will also see the spotlight trained on the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea City fans will be hoping the inspirational Michael Laudrup has been given more funds to strengthen a side he has had such an uplifting impact on. It will also be Moyes’ opening examination, an opportunity to prove he can keep United moving in the right direction.

All eyes will be on his tactics, his style, and his ability to influence game through substitutions.

The champions have hardly been given the gentlest start. After facing Swansea and Chelsea, Moyes’s men head to Liverpool on Aug 31 and then to Manchester City on Sept 21.

The Anfield game comes on the eve of the England squad meeting up for the key World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine. Roy Hodgson will hope that Premier League game involving Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones and others will be the early kick-off on the Saturday. Also that weekend is Arsenall against Tottenham Hotspur , involving more of Hodgson’s players.

Hodgson really does need the broadcasters to do England a favour but it is sure to be an issue with one game late afternoon on the Sunday.

The myriad problems bedevilling the national team will doubtless be overlooked in the usual frenzy over Premier League fixtures. Never mind the country’s travails at assorted age-group levels, feel the vibrant club scene.

Even a cursory glance at the Premier League fixture list will have fans and television moguls slavering.

So many marquee moments spice the calendar, signifying it could be a classic chase for the title, a welcome development after last year’s ultimately lacklustre affair. United, the champions, will be challenged hard by Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, probably Liverpool and possibly Spurs.

Historically, the Premier League race usually settles down into a two-team duel but this time it could be more a grand national of a race.

City will be a more fluid, attractive unit under Manuel Pellegrini, particularly if Isco has joined. Liverpool mature promisingly under Brendan Rodgers, particularly if his transfer targets are met.

In North London, Arsenal should have strengthened in the market while the talismanic Jack Wilshere will return. They have to keep Laurent Koscielny away from Continental suitors. Spurs will continue to grow under Andre Villas-Boas, particularly if they can keep Gareth Bale and sharpen their attack.

Even when viewed only over the first few months, so many dates ripple with local and national significance: Sep 28 sees Spurs tackle Chelsea; Oct 26 is a double-bill of Chelsea v City and the raucous ritual that isSunderland v Newcastle United.

Nov 2 pits Arsenal against Liverpool and Cardiff City against Swansea City, a cancel all leave for the police and order in all earplugs for the neighbours. November also hosts United v Arsenal, Everton v Liverpool and Spurs v United. It’s a television viewer’s bonanza.

An important sideshow to the main spectacle emerging from Premier League HQ on Wednesday was the sight of fans heading into Gloucester Place in London to meet the chief executive, Richard Scudamore.

The fans from the Liverpool group Spirit of Shankly were protesting at the high ticket prices. They were backed by the Football Supporters’ Federation which has been pushing for “20s Plenty”, namely £20 maximum for away tickets.

After the meeting with Scudamore, the FSF’s chief executive Kevin Miles said: “We got a response that was ‘willing to listen’. They shared some of our concerns and agreed to ongoing dialogue to try to come up with some solutions.’’

Meanwhile the broadcasters will begin moving the fixtures around. He who pays the piper...